Introducing buildOn Ambassador Travis Van Winkle

Actor and philanthropist Travis Van Winkle of TNT’s the Last Ship has joined buildOn as our first buildOn Ambassador!

buildOn Ambassadors are members of the Entertainment Industry who are lending their voices as leaders in our movement to help break the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and low expectations through service and education.

Travis, a long time supporter of buildOn, has dedicated himself to service and by fundraising, serving and advocating in support of buildOn’s International School Building Programs and U.S. Service Learning Programs. 

Over the last three years, he has constructed schools with buildOn in Malawi, Haiti and Nicaragua. This year, he has immersed himself in the Detroit community by serving alongside buildOn students as they reached out to neighbors in need.

“I’m so grateful buildOn has become a major part of my life over the last couple of years and serving as ambassador is an absolute honor,” Travis Van Winkle says. “What I love about buildOn is that everyone involved is given an opportunity to rise above their limitations and stand up into their best selves. If you are willing to grow, change and confront what you think you know, buildOn delivers the spark of inspiration that can light the flame of possibility, choice, and the chance to find yourself.”

Travis has organized a group of fellow actors and entertainment industry professionals dubbed “Team Hollywood” to help him fulfill buildOn’s mission. The group is working with Travis to fundraise for three more buildOn schools and is traveling with him to Malawi and Nepal to break ground on the projects.

Later this Fall, Travis and buildOn Founder and CEO Jim Ziolkowski will hold a live Google Hangout to discuss Travis’s commitment to fighting the education crisis at home and abroad with buildOn. Follow buildOn on Facebook or Twitter for more details.